Device to control the front axles of road vehicles



F. 1-1. ROYCE 1,716,836

DEVCE `TO CONTROL THE FRONT AXLES OF ROAD VEHICLES June 11, 1929.

yFiled July 29, 1925 falliti.

Patented June 11, 1929.

UNETED STATES FREDERICK HENRY ROYCE, OF WEST VVIT'IERING NEAR CHICI'IESTER, ENGLAND,

.ASSIGNOR 'IO ROLLS-ROYCE LIMITED, OF DERBY,

ENGLAND.

DEVICE TO CONTROL 'II-IE FRONT AXLES- OF ROAD VEHICLES.

Application led July 29, 1925.

This invention is applicable to four wheel road vehicles provided with brakes on all the wheels and has for its object to control or support the front axle in an improved manner.

According to my invention I adopt leaf springs of the semi-elliptical form and which I pivotally hinge at the rear end to the frame, secure at the'front end by shackles to the dumb iron or its equivalent, and secure centrallyto the axle by U bolts, and I construct a rigid radius rod beneath each spring hinged at its rear end to the frame and at its front end to the under side of the front axle.

Preferably the eili'ect of applying brakes to the front wheels :is to apply force to the front axle in a rotational direction which apart from being an additional strainbn the U bolts securing the axle to the spring actually causes ya displacement of the axle in a rotational direction the spring assuming a wave shapemwhich displacement of lthe axle alters the inclination of the steering pivots and aifects the steering` mechanism.

This invention is a means to prevent the displacement of the axle referred to.

I construct a suspended bracket attached to the side girder of the frame arranged to -arry the bolt which is threaded through the eve of the main leaf of the spring, and cxtcnd this bracket further downwards for a suitable distance, and I attach a rigid rod at one end to the lower end of the bracket and at the other end to the under side of the axle immediately under the spring anchorage, such rod being secured to the bracket and to the axle by suitable adapting means such as for example ball and socket oints.

Ey wav of further strengthening or supporting this bracket I may rigidly tix another rigid rod at one end to the lower end of the said bracket and at the other end to the lower end of another similarly suspended bracket located further to the rear for supporting tie rods such as for example, the common arrangement of bracket and tie rods employed to stiften the members of the frame.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated an example of my invention.

Fig. l is a side elevation viewed from the inside of the chassis showing the general lay out. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional views of the rear joint of the radius Serial No. 46,837, and in England August 25, 1924.

rod, the sections as to F 2 being a horizontal section through the cent-re of the rear joint and as to Fig. 3 a vertical section on the line SW3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 1lis an enlarged horizontal section through the centre of the front joint. a is the frame of the car, al the front axle, and a2 the front spring. b is a tubular member (in Fig. 2 above the section line) rigidly secured to the frame terminating in a boss 1, through which is a conical perforation and on which is formed an extension Z22, a spigot b3, and an eye end b4. The boss b1 is also respectively perforated at b5 and 6G to receive bolts hereinafter referred to. c is a boss with a conical perforation, integral with and underneath the front axle Z is a tubular member fastened at one end by a ball and socket joint to the boss b1 and at the other end by a ball and socket joint to the boss c.

The iirst mentioned ball and socket joint is constructed as follows (Z1 is a tubular member telescoped into the member l and secured therein by rivets (Z2 having` a shoulder d3 to t against the end of the tube (Z, being` for a distance out away on one side from Z4 to the outer end to enable the neck of the ball to pass when the tube is threaded over the ball, with perforated bosses d formed thereon to receive the bolt hereinafter referred to, and threaded internally at the outer end, d is the inner pad with a tubular extension fitting into the member (Z1 and ZT is the outer pad threaded externally to engage the thread of the member (Z1. ZS is the ball with conical stem (Z9 which fits into the hole in the boss o1 such stem terminating in a threaded part d10 which is engaged by the nut dll. To assemble the joint the inner pad (Z6 is inserted in position in the tubular member (Z1 the member all is threaded over the ball (the neck passing along the cut away) the outer pad l? is then screwed in till the pads are in Contact with the ball. The bolt (Z1: is then put through the perforations in the bosses Z5 and the nut is screwed on and tightened, thereby pulling` together the edges of the cut away and closing member Z1 lirmly around the outer pad d?. e is a case made in two halves with abutting flanges el with an opening iitting around the spigot Z13 and with perforated bosses c2 and secured together by bolts c3 through such bosses and one of such parts having perforated bosses c3" and c formed thereon, and the case is held in position on the boss b1 by the bolts eand c, e is a leather gaiter secured at one end to the case e and at the other to the tube (I. The joint with the boss on the lirontaxle is constructed as ,tollowsz-f is a tubular member telescoped into the tube Z and secured therein by rivets f1, is the inner pad with a tubular extension fitting into member f, is the outer pad. The outer pad ie recessed on the outer end and sneh recess is internally threaded. f* is a hollen7 two diameter plug with a iane'e and threaded on ite larger and smaller eirenin- .tei-ences, f is a binding` nut, f7 is a tubular member with a restricted end fs and eut away on one side from ff) to the farther extremity to enable the neck oi the ball to pass when the ineinber is threaded over the ball. @n each eide ot the cntJ away part are three perforated bosees 7' to receive bolts fu by which the sleeve f7 is held lirinly to member the member f having,` lgrooves formed on it to clear the bolts. f is a taper bolt paseinv through and iittingr registering holes in the members and and through a hole with a clearance in member f2, said bolt being secured by a nnt. 'llo assemble the joint' the inner pad f2 is put in position in tubular inember j", the outer pad f3 with the plug ft are placed in position in the member f7. The member f7 is then threaded over the ball (the neck passingdown the ent away side) and ie then telescoped on to the ineinber 7L'. The bolt flu is then inserted and secured, the pad f is then adjusted by n'ieans of the plug` ft, the nut f" is then tightened. Bolts f are ther. inserted through the perforated bosses ,im and nuts screwed up on such bolts thereby tightening the member around the meinH ber 'llo adjust the pads tor wear the nut f and the nut et the bolt fil on the outer pad eide are looeened, the plug f nnscrewed thereby tor-cine the pad fi" inuards until the joint is tight when the nuts are again screwed up. ,f/ is a post secured to the traine, (/1 a tie rod secured at one end to the extension 2f and at the other to the post g, and g2 and g3 are strengthening tie reds.

The ei'leet ot the construction above de scribed is that the main leaf ot the spring an the tiret mentioned rod constitute a i -allel control device which prevents the e t'roni being` displacet aine time does not interfere with the l rota tionally and That I claim is l. In a motor vehicle, the combination ot the front axle, a traine having a eide parallel to the .trent wheel thereof, a semielliptic spring iixed at its center to said axle, a link pivoted to the front end ot` said side and to the front end of said spring, a post depending from said traine with its tree end below said axle, the rear end ot said springv being pivoted to said poet between the ends thereof, and a rigid. distance rod under vsaid sprin` and ecnnieeted a brace to the said axle and to said 'lree end.

2. In a inotor vehicle, the combination of the front axle, a traine havin` a side parallel to the Vliront wheel thereof, a semielliptie spring i'ixed at its center to said axle, a link pivoted to the 'front end ol said side and to the front end ot' said spring. a post depending` Ytrein said traine with its iree end below said axle, the rear end ot said spring being* pivoted to said poet between the ends thereof, and a second postdepending from said side rearwardly ol the tiret mentioned post, and braces connected to the tree ends of said posts and said side to hold the iliree end otl the tiret mentioned post rigid relative to said side.

In a motor vehicle, the conibination et the ilront axle, a :traine having` a Side parallel to the trent wheel thereol", a. semielliptie spring hinged :it its rear end indirectly to .said traine and lixed at its center to Said axle, a link pivoted to the iront end ot said eide and the front end of said spring, and a rigid distance rod substantially parallel to and vertically under the rear haltx ol' said spring' and connected at its opposite ends to said axle and to said traine.

In a motor vehicle, the conibination of the front axle, a aine having a side parallel to the iront wieel thereof, a semielliptie eprin;` fixed at its center to said axle, a link pivoted to the :trent end ot said side and to the 'liront end of said spring, a post depending Yfrein said traine with its 'tree end below said axle. the rear end olf said spring being pivoted to said post between the en ls thereof. and a second poet depending troni @aid side rearwardlyet the lirstmentioned post, and a rigid distance rod vertically under the rear hall1 ot said spring", and connected at its opposite ends to the :said axle and to the :tree end ot said post.

5. In a niotor vehicle, the combination ol'` the front axle, a l'rame having a side substantially parallel to the liront wheel thereet a semi-elliptic spring,r extending lengthwise of and vertically below said side, said Spring being;` fixed to said axle and having its rear end pivoted directly to said side, and a rigid distance rod substantially parallel to and vertically under said spring and connected at its opposite ends to said axle and to said traine.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification.

,FREDERICK HENRY RGYGE. 

